Slide for sport, amusement, and artistic purposes



Aug. 12, 1941. ERMEL 2,251,927

SLIDE FOR SPORT, AMUSEMENT, AND ARTISTIC PURPOSES Filed Oct; 21, 1939 W 22"? MVWM W ATTO :Ys.

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES SLIDE FOR SPORT, AMUSEMENT, AND ARTISTIC PURPOSES Heinrich Ermel, Berlin, Germany, assignor to the firm Riddell Skislicie Company of America,

New York, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1939, Serial No. 300,560 In Germany May 11, 1937 3 Claims.

The invention relates to artificial slides for sport, amusement and artistic purposes, particularly for skiing.

Artificial slides for the said purposes have already been proposed. However, such prior slides have been unsatisfactory due to the fact tllilat they do not allow a reliable guidance of the s s.

This principal drawback of prior suggested constructions are overcome in accordance with the present invention in that the surface of the slide is comprised of brush bristles which are fastened in a carrier in substantially vertical position with regard to the slide surface. These bristles may be composed of hog bristles, fiber and the like, the essential being their ability to return to upright position after having been pressed down by the ski or other object passing over them. A slide of this character always affords a reliable guide for the skis; the skis can be positively pressed into the layer of brush bristles and may also be tilted for performing loops. The bristles bent more or less towards the surface of their carrier will always return 1 into their upright position.

The carrier for the brush bristles may be composed of individual slabs or it may be made up in the form of an endless conveying band. It is essential to use a carrier of such character and to fasten the brush bristles in this carrier in such a manner that the vbrush bristles, after having been pressed downward can raise into their upright position.

In some cases it is desirable to increase the slipperiness of the slide, and in this connection the bristles are coated with a thin layer of a lubricant, such as liquid floor mineral oil or water; care must be taken, however, that the bristles do not stick together. By leaving air gaps between the brush bristles a too strong adhesion between the slide and the skis is avoided.

The brush bristles may have any desired color; in some cases it will, however, be advantageous to use white or bleached bristles or to provide the surface of the slide with decorations giving to the said surface the appearance of snow.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed specification. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the first part of a loop slide in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a slide of the endless conveying band type in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the first part of a slide in combination with a swing;

Fig. 4 shows a partial cross section through a slide of preferred construction.

As shown in Fig. 1 the part AB of the slide has substantially the form of a quarter of a circle. From B to C the slide is slightly bent backward, so that the contact with the slide in jumping from a diving plank D is facilitated.

According to Fig. 2 the slide is constructed as an endless band E supported by two rollers F which can be continuously driven at a controlled velocity by a motor (not shown). The belt may be driven in either direction. Take-01f and landing planes H are provided at each end of the band E.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the slide is combined with a swing J which serves as a movable take-off and diving plane for a skier. In this arrangement the slide B is also combined with a take-off K which can be lifted and low-- ered at will by means of a rack and pinion L. The skier standing upon the swing J may jump or dive upon the take-off K from either side of the take-off and from thence glide upon the slide B. The take-off has the position shown in full lines when the swing moves from right to left, that is, when jumping downwardly. The dotted lines represent the position of the takeoff when the swing moves from left to right, that is, when jumping upwardly. The take-off K also, it will be noted, acts as a stop member for the swing. It will be understood that when the swing is moved from right to left the main part of the slide will join K at the left hand end and when the swing is to move in the opposite direction the main part of the slide will join K at the right hand end.

According to a preferred construction illustrated in Fig. 4 the slide is composed of a carrier M of wood and of brush bristles N, which are fastened in the carrier in substantially vertical position with regard to the slide surface. The carrier is provided with perforations 0 through which rain water or washing water may pass.

What I claim is:

1. A slide which comprises a plurality of individual slabs or blocks of rigid material each provided with individual tufts of brush bristles inserted into and projecting from the upper face thereof in substantially vertical position with respect to the slab surface, said bristles constituting the sliding face of the slide and possessing 3. A slide which comprises a plurality of perforated individual slabs or blocks of wood each provided with spaced tufts of brush bristles inserted into and projecting from the upper face thereof in substantially vertical position with respect to the slab face, said bristles constituting the sliding face of the slide and possessing the ability to restore themselves to vertical position after being bent toward the slabs.

HEINRICH ERMEL. 

